“The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do.” said John W. Holt Jr. This quote was very much top-of-mind for us both as my partner taught me to ride a motorcycle last weekend!

I believe that to grow we need to keep challenging ourselves. With this in mind, I decided to learn to ride a motorcycle. I’d been on the back of one before and, on that basis, I thought “this can’t be too difficult to learn”. In terms of the Four Stages of Competence developed by Noel Burch at Gordon Training International, I was most likely, “unconsciously incompetent”. I didn’t know what I didn’t know.

My partner got me a suitable bike, one with a low seat so I could reach the ground. He said, “It is just like being on a bicycle, which you already know how to do. This should just be second nature”. To begin, we went to a car park and he pushed me around the lot without turning on the motor. This was so I could get used to the counter-balance and steering. Even that much proved too much for me! I was swerving all over and at times, at risk of dropping the machine. Nature be damned, what I needed was a lot of nurture! I had moved into a learning phase known as ‘conscious incompetence’. I now recognized my deficit, my lack of ability and my lack of balance! And more so, he recognized my lack of ability! I’m not sure he expected that part to be my challenge. Step-by-step he taught me to balance the bike, turn, lean, shift, and brake. Eventually, I was riding quite well. Now, I believe I am ‘consciously competent’. I have acquired a basic riding skill level, but it still requires a great deal of concentration! I look forward to the time when this skill becomes second nature. I will not longer have to think about it. I will be ‘unconsciously competent’. Do you challenge yourself and your people to explore what you don’t know? We thrive on learning new skills, but we need help along the way. A good manager learns to identify, encourage and develop potential in others.

What next?

Find out about the “Building Potential” theme in the TakeON! Business Matters series